The Stranglers – at The Forum – Aberdeen, UK

The last time I’d seen The Strangers was at the old Capitol theatre in Union Street back in 1990. That gig was a dull and lifeless affair, with the then five-piece band clearly going through the motions as they miserably trotted out unnecessary cover versions and filler-quality originals. Original singer/guitarist Hugh Cornwell unsurprisingly quit the band at the end of that tour.

What followed was a ten year, four album dalliance (as I’ll call it) with former Vibrator John Ellis on guitar and Paul Roberts on vocals. I never really took to his bare-chested Iggy-esque interpretation of the Stranglers’ classic songs – taking over  both Cornwell’s and JJ Burnel’s vocal lines – and the new material they were writing was largely uninspired. However, around the early noughties a murmur started to grow about a change for the better. Ellis had been replaced by (former Toy Doll!) Baz Warne who had, by all accounts, brought a slew of decent new material with him and had seemingly injected new life into the band. A new album, Norfolk Coast, was unveiled making the resurgence official, being hailed in all quarters as a real return to form .

Roll forward another couple of years and Roberts leaves the band “by mutual consent”. Back to the classic four piece line up with Warne taking over the Cornwell vocals and JJ returning to his own, it seemed that the Stranglers special dynamic was restored. The latest album Suite XV1 released in 2007 backed this up completely. In my opinion, it’s the best thing they’ve done since The Raven. The songs display a wide range of musical styles and lyrical themes and yet are all indelibly stamped with The Stranglers identity. It was my album of the year by some way when it was released and I’ve played it more than any other Stranglers album in the years since.
And so, with tonight being my first opportunity to catch the band locally in their current form, was I looking forward to it? Er…just a bit.

The Forum is a great wee venue. Good size, with the stage at one end, bar at the other, and only a couple of pillars providing viewing restrictions. However, access to the hall is dreadful. According to the tickets, doors were at 7 but when we swung past at around 7.30 there was a sizeable queue waiting to get in. A swift pint in the nearby Noose and Monkey later and we return to find the queue is still there at 8.10. As we waited to get in, I heard the rumblings of the support band starting up their set. When we eventually got inside the venue, I found there was a queue for the Gents and then, when I’d been, a queue to get into the main hall. Somehow I wormed my way through the densely packed crowd to the far side of the hall where there was actually space available in which to stand in reasonable comfort!

The band on stage going though their paces is called Max Raptor. They’re the tour support but I must confess I’d never heard of them before today. They’re tight and energetic and their songs are full of punky / indie swagger, catchy choruses with lots of Woah-oh backing vocals. By the end of the second song two words are lodged in my mind. Kaiser Chiefs. It’s not a direct rip-off of course but they’re pretty damn close in both their styling and delivery. This is confirmed when I return to my mates when they’re done and Mike cites the KC influence in his view of them too. They’re a competent enough band though and the songs were good enough to get my feet tapping by the end of their set.

There’s a short break while the stage is cleared and I take the opportunity to battle my way to the lavvy and back again. They really seem to have shoehorned people in here tonight, at least Stage Right where the hall entrances are However, I manage to retrieve my spot just as a hairy-biker type takes to the stage with a piano-accordion. He kicks off a couple of bars of The Northern Lights Of Old Aberdeen and I groan inwardly. However, it’s just a tease as he then powers through a terrific version of Waltzinblack, with the assembled throng lending their voice to the refrain.

The Stranglers take their places on stage dressed in their trademark black shirts, with their iconic logo in huge white letters behind them. They take their places, Jet Black stage left at the back with JJ in front of him, Dave Greenfield stage right at the back with Baz in front. They’re all looking pretty happy, flashing grins to each other and to known faces in the front rows.

It’s a low key start to the set – Time To Die off of the first Roberts album. It’s a good song and gives Baz the opportunity to show off some of his skills on the guitar while JJ breaks his voice in gently with the spoken vocal. However, I don’t think it’s familiar to many here tonight and the response is quite muted. However, there’s hardly time for applause as the familiar intro to Go Buddy Go rings out sparking off some enthusiastic bouncing stage front. It sounds good, with almost as much vocal coming from the crowd as from JJ himself.

(Get A) Grip (On Yourself) is up next, giving us the first opportunity to see how Baz handles the Cornwell vocal lines. He does a remarkably good job of it, capturing the delivery perfectly without trying to ape Hugh’s voice completely. It’s a good start.

JJ takes over again for a claustrophobic sounding Curfew, one of only a handful of tracks tonight which wasn’t a single. The Norfolk Coast album soon gets an airing with JJ singing the title track quickly followed by Baz singing Long Black Veil. They both go down well with the crowd, although there’s a markedly louder cheer when they recognize the intro to Always The Sun. It’s played superbly and provides another opportunity for the crowd to join in on massed backing vocal for the chorus.

One big hit is immediately followed by another as they launch straight into Golden Brown, its gentle waltz timing affording the silver haired Jet Black a wee bit of respite. Despite his advancing years, he sounded great tonight and never put a foot wrong, thoroughly meriting the chants of Jet Black, Jet Black by the crowd.

The “classic” single is then followed by the new single. Retro Rockets is available to download now and on first hearing, it’s a decent Stranglers uptempo rocker. It definitely sounds like it’s worth checking out and gets a good audience response.

I get a thrill of excitement as Jet thumps out the bizarrely timed drum rolls that usher in Genetix, always a favorite of mine. However, (***Obligatory Moan TM***) something’s not right. Dave Greenfield’s synth is virtually inaudible and the song sounds messy and lost without it despite his best effort on lead vocal. Midway through, when they change to the outro section, it comes back and the ending sounds as powerful as it should. It’s a real shame though as it spoiled what for me could have been one of the highlights of the set. The same problem would arise later (on Walk On By and Down In The Sewer) so I dunno if it was just one specific keyboard that was malfunctioning or what. It should have been spotted and rectified though.

I was ever so slightly disappointed that we only got Unbroken off the last album. No Spectre Of Love – surely a Stranglers’ classic if ever there was one. But it’s a minor grumble. When you’ve got as long a line of hit singles as The Strangler’s, what are you gonna leave out? As well as those I’ve already mentioned, tonight we also got treated to Skin Deep, a hugely powerful Nuclear Device counterbalanced by a delicate Strange Little Girl. We got the hugely underrated Duchess, the fucked up reggae of Nice ‘n’ Sleazy and we got Baz putting his own mark on a menacing version of Peaches – “Aww shite! There goes the charabanc.” spat out in his broadest Sunderland accent. All though this, the band really seem as though they’re enjoying themselves, Baz hamming it up for the front rows, JJ and Jet sharing the occasional joke, Dave laughing with the stage hands as he dashes off an extensive keyboard run one-handed whilst draining his pint with the other. It’s great to see.

The main set ends with the classic Down In The Sewer, with Burnel crouched low doing his trademark crab dance of old as he stares out the front rows. Despite the keyboard problems, it’s still a powerhouse of a tune and a fitting closer to the set. We know there’s more to come though, some staples that haven’t yet been played and, sure enough, they return to the stage after a short break. They kick off the first encore with a pounding Five Minutes which sounds every bit as powerful as when it was recorded back in 1979. It’s quickly followed by a rousing Something Better Change with the crowd nearly drowning out the PA for the “Stick my fingers right up your nose.”  line.

We have another short break during which the crowd is even more vocal in their demands for the band to come back. Dave hits the organ chords that signal the start of Hanging Around and the crowd goes mad again. The soaring keyboard flourishes as they bridge to the chorus of the song make the hairs on the back of my neck rise. It’s simply stunning. Of course, there’s only one way to follow that.  A couple of bass notes echo from JJ’s Fender as he attempts to disguise what’s coming next. It’s not working though. The skittery wee run down the G-string, the short snare roll and then that instantly recognizable keyboard riff usher in No More Heroes. Baz’s vocals are perfect (as they have been all night). Just the right amount of a sneer, just the right amount of menace for one of the greatest anthems of the punk era. It’s completely timeless and surely now up there with the universal greats of rock music. It’s a perfect way to end the night. The applause as the band finally bids us goodnight is both long and loud.

I’m really pleased I went along to this. The band tonight is definitely much more energised than the one I saw twenty years previously. The new material is sounding great and they’re obviously having fun playing it. But, although you’d never know it from his playing, Jet Black is now 71 years old. He can’t keep doing this forever, and JJ has said he doubts if they’d carry on without him. It’s Jet’s band. Catch them while you can.
 

Review by: New York Johnny

Photos by: -Dod M.-
Big Wheel Overseas Correspondent

 

More photos of the event can be seen HERE

 
                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews

 

 

 

Scream and The Holloys – at The Echo – Silverlake, CA

Historically speaking Scream have always been well loved, but not necessarily well known. While other Dischord Records bands from the 1980's such as Minor Threat and Government Issue have remained staples in the average Hardcore kid's record collection, Scream are just a bit more obscure, but that is certainly not because they were not a great band. The band's first two records- "Still Screaming" and "This Side Up" are absolute classics that utilize heavy influences from Bad Brains along with strong melodies that would set the tone for later bands like Dag Nasty and Verbal Assault.

Perhaps with the reformation of the band's original lineup, Scream will be able to rise above their relative obscurity. Anyone who has seen any of their recent reunion shows could attest that they still possess a spark- there's something special still going on with Scream. At last night's show in Los Angeles they came out on stage ready to rock. Opening with, "Who Knows? Who Cares?," Stahl's voice sounded great despite the fact that he was singing out of a P.A. with a bit of a flat sound. The guitars also came together perfectly. There were some minor complaints about Kent Stax lagging behind slightly on the drums, but the overall sound was powerful.

Scream's set list mixed in songs from their upcoming recordings (a full length and a split 7" with Reggae legend, Lee "Scratch" Perry) with tracks from the band's first two albums. The new songs ranged from slower Reggae jams to heavy hitting Hardcore Punk. Some set list high lights included "Solidarity," "Influenced," "This Side Up," "New Song," "Fight/American Justice" "Total Mash," "Bet You Never Thought," "Hygeine," and "Came Without Warning." In between songs former Scream drummer Dave Grohl (who also at one point enlisted Scream guitarist Franz Stahl to play in the Foo Fighters) was in the audience heckling the band and yelling out requests.

After a short intermission the guys came back out for an encore, starting wit "Bedlam" and then raging through a hand full of others including "Cry Wolf" which set the audience into a storm. Throughout the set Scream maintained their energy and good spirits, respecting their audience and putting on a memorable performance. It would be great to see them play with other Hardcore bands- the openers, the Holloys put on a fine performance for what they were doing, but their sound has more in common with "This Is What You Want" era Public Image.

 

-Ditch.-
Big Wheel Asst. Editor

 

More photos of the event can be seen HERE

 
                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews

 

 

 

Music play list for the week ending February 28, 2010

Top 25  - In no particular order -

Generation X - One Hundred Punks
A Global Threat - Social Quarantine
T.S.O.L. - Sounds of Laughter
Alkaline Trio - This Addiction
Transplants - Diamonds and Guns
Wolf Trap - Time
Tsunami Bomb - Take The Reigns
Buck O Nine - Record Store
Amy Winehouse - You Know I'm No Good
The Voids - Suburban Boredom
Die Hunns - Cancore Sore
Oingo Boingo - Only a Lad
The Avengers - We Are The One
NOFX - Lori Meyers
The Sweet - Ballroom Blitz
Smashing Pumpkins - Cherub Rock
Gary Numan - Cars
The Adicts - Who Spilt My Beer
Blondie - Tide Is High
Articles Of Faith - Bad Attitude
The Germs - Richie Daggers Crime
The Slackers - Pets of the World
The Nils - Scratches and Needles
Havoc - Selective Service
Johnny Thunders and The Heartbreakers - Too Much Junkie Business

The above list are some of the top played songs amongst our staff this week.

Download the above songs HERE at the iTunes Music Store

Message of the week:
You don't know how brave you are till they chain you to the radiator.
-Carl Malden

 

Get the albums that these songs are on HERE

 

Prima Donna – The Billy Bones – Duane Peters – Sean and Zander – Motorcycle Boy – Legendary Swagger – at Key Club – Hollywood, CA

Tonight at the re-opened Key Club in Hollywood marked the return of Prima Donna from their tour of Asia and Europe. They were out supporting Green Day on their 21st Century Breakdown Tour. This would be the band's first show in LA in 6 months. Coming off a tour like they have is so far from their humble beginnings.

Bands that joined in the fun for the welcome home show was, The Billy Bones, Duane Peters, Sean and Zander, Motorcycle Boy and Legendary Swagger who kicked the night off.


Legendary Swagger is a seriously solid band -They posses everything you want in a band and when their set was over it left you wishing they would just play their entire set again! www.myspace.com/thelegendaryswagger


Motorcycle Boy was up next and lit the place on fire. www.myspace.com/francoismotorcycleboy


Taking the show in another direction was Sean Wheeler who most know from Throwrag and Zander Schloss on Circle Jerks. This is a project that the two of them have been doing for a while. If you love good music to drink to, check these guys out when they perform www.myspace.com/seanwheelerzanderschloss


The Billy Bones threw down a killer set comprised of many of the songs from their upcoming album, The Complexity of Stupidity. For the uninitiated, Billy Bones' previous band The Skulls is where at the age of 16, Keven Preston of Prima Donna first came on the scene with his guitar prowess. www.myspace.com/thebillybones

After The Billy Bones exited the stage is when we started to experience some technical difficulty with our equipment. It came at the worst time as Duane Peters was taking the stage with his new band that this time included keyboards and a violin. As seriously eclectic mix of music that could only come from the creative mind of Duane Peters.


Now with backup equipment in hand it was back to the action as the band of the night, Prima Donna was now walking through the stairwell to the back door to take the stage. Prima Donna is: Kevin Preston on vocals and guitar, Aaron Minton on saxophone and keyboards, David Field on drums, Dan Nyby on bass, Erik Arcane on guitar. As probably one of the only media outlets here in LA that has documented this band from it's early days some 6 plus years ago and has witnessed the persistence, hard work and of course the key ingredient, talent all has paid off.

WOW, what a welcome back they received from the fans in LA as the crowd cheered wildly throughout the show.
Songs performed were: Soul Stripper, Some Kinda Nerve, Miss Avenue, Lady Strange, Teenage Mannequin, Stray Doll, Demoted, Crimson Lust, Double Crosser, Generation X song -King Rocker, Fuck Off, I Don't Want You To Love Me. After the set they returned back to the stage for an encore of Chinese Rocks. This was one of their best shows yet.

Their current album "After Dark" is out on Acetate Records, go pick up a copy today  www.myspace.com/primadonna



Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 
                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews
 

 

 

The Dub Seeds – Josh Fisphel – at Fishlips – Bakersfield, CA – February 26, 2010

Last Friday night on the 26th of Februrary, The Dub Seeds played for a packed house of 300 people at Fishlips in Bakersfield to celebrate the release of their first full- length album titled "FEELIN IT". In 2004 the band originally started out with the name "Seed", and in 2008 became known as "DUB SEEDS"  their musical style  gravitates towards a reggae punk feel while maintaining a strong California-Reggae Dub style! They have shared the stage with many great acts such as Eek A Mouse, Pepper, Fishbone, Voodoo Glowskulls,  and even some great hip hop acts such as Digital Underground and Afroman . Their versatility, sound,  and kick back vibe (which resembles bands such as 311, Slightly Stoopid, and Sublime) has earned them a great following of fans throughout the central coast area. Chris, Gizmo, and Gary, all Bakersfield locals, have a great musical chemistry that shines through in their stage performance. Friday night was no exception, Dub Seeds fans were outta their seats dancing and paying homage to this great local band.

Josh Fisphel opened the show with a really cool acoustic set. Fisphel mixes tongue in cheek humor with meaningful and sometimes dirty lyrics while singing his songs with a passion not easily matched.  I've seen him play before and I always enjoy hearing his set. The Dub Seeds came on around 10 o'clock and it was apparent who this crowd was here for. People were up singing along and dancing their asses off. The Merch table stayed occupied with fans buying c.d.'s, hacky sacs, pipe bags (provided by Bonnie Fortson of "Made With Love" hippie clothing and accessories) and other Dub Seed memorabilia. The band started out their set with the song "Inside Out" and progressed effortlessly into several other great songs from their new album. They took a break to sing  "Happy Birthday"  for a friend in true Reggae Dub Style.They are known for engaging the crowd and showing love to their loyal fans. A few songs later they broke out with the song "Mr. Pink", also featured on their new  album.

They killed it with that one! This song was geared more toward a fast paced punk genre with a Dub Seed style, and was by far my favorite song of the evening. These guys rocked the stage and everyone at Fishlips for over two hours. At the end of the night everyone seemed a lil' drunk and thoroughly satisfied with their fix of the vivacious Reggae Rock experience that The Dub Seeds are known to deliver every time they play. You can check out the Dub Seeds on their myspace page at myspace.com/dubseeds, or become a fan on facebook at facebook.com/dubseeds. Their newly released full-length album 'FEELIN IT" can also be purchased at www.reverbnation.com/dubseeds  and very soon on itunes. Also check their tour dates to see if they'll be playing any shows near you. If The Dub Seeds don't get you up and groovin', chances are you may have smoked a lil bit to much ganga before the show!
 

-J. Moncrief-
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 
                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews
 

 

 

Bear Hands – Visqueen – at Spaceland – Silverlake, CA

One band getting a ton of buzz in the New York music world is a group called Bear Hands. They are label mates of MGMT and are known to bring similar dance groves to the packed venues they have been playing. Well I was lucky enough to catch the trios first performance in the Los Angeles area and local favorite Spaceland before they would rock the Troubadour the next evening. A little preview of things to come.

When the four piece came on stage there was a bit of anticipation in the crowd. I took a peak at the setlist which started with "Slow". A fitting title or maybe just a mood they wanted to set because the song indeed achieve its namesake. Something to set the mood, something to prepare the crowd (which was mostly filled with punkers for the next group), something to get the crowd moving. A slow sultry movement to go with the swaying synths.

Everything about the group screams sexy. "Get a Grip" was a highlight for the funky vocals displayed by Dylan Rau to the drug like wails of Ted Feldman its jest all a dreamy daze. Not everyone is into the sexyness and you could hear some mumbling of them being too mellow for those naysayers "Can't Stick Em" brought the house down. It may start out with faint guitars but turns into a kick drum tyraid complete with overdriven bass. Rau goes from singing to shouting "Go Home" at the top of his lungs.

Yeah maybe those people should have just gone home but they all wanted more after that. A band that successfully takes you in and out of lush haze with vivid shoegaze mixed in is the perfect mix for any indie dance party.

The crowd filled in before headliner Visqueen from the state of Washington would take the stage.
 
Visqueen took a page from Bear Hands and started with a serenade of sorts. Just the two females on vocals and a single violin. I was sure that this was going to be a Flogging Molly type band when they were checking but maybe I was wrong.

Singer Rachel Flotard explained that they had done a stripped down version of their songs over at Amoeba Records the previous day and they wanted to try to recapture that this evening. After hearing that opener it made me wish I had attended that show because the lone violin version was so lovely.

The rest of the set took a more gritty and basic approach. It all resembled more of a ska punk feel of the late Dance Hall Crashers. The duel girl vocal switch, the guitars going chuga chuga, and the members jumping up and down. Even the tiny asian girl on bass. Seriously the bass almost dwarfed the girl. All that was lacking was a little "oi, oi, oi".

I don't think I have ever, or will ever, hear a Silverlake crowd scream oi oi oi but they might as well to Visqueen.

Visqueen might not have been for me but they may be right for you!  www.myspace.com/visqueen

And we know Bear hands was for me but are they for you?  www.myspace.com/bearhandsband
 

 

Carl Pocket
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 
                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews
 

 

 

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